Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1887-07-22
Riscoe sentenced by Judge Stone.


1t will be remembered that when Joht
Benjamin Biscoe Was convicted for the second
time of murder in the first. degree, at the last
Nav term of our Circuit Court, for the killing
of Cant. Robert Dixon, the counsel for the prl-
soner gave notice that they intended again to
take the case to the Court of Appeals on e1
ceptions taken to the rulings Of the Court dur
ing the progress of the trial. The counsel were
given until the July term to prepare their ex-
ceptions and present them to the Court for ap.
pro,al, and Judge Magrnder stated that be
would have them ready by that time The time.
however, having ELAPSED and nothing having
been heard from the counsel, the prisoner was
brought into Court on Tuesday morning to re-
ceived his sentence He came in in charge OF
Sheriff Simpson, and still maintained the same
unconcerned manner that has characterized him
throu. h1ut bis Incarceration here When ash ed
bv The Clerk il he had any thing TO say Why the
sentence of tie Court should not be Passed up
on him. Biscee did not seem 10 understand the
question. 1t was then repeated by the Court
Judge Stone) when he answered: mo sir {;
only don't want the sentence Of death passed
upon me. | don't want to be hung" The
Judge then said: ''You haze had two trials
and two juries have, Without any hesitancy,
found you guilty Of the murder Of Capt Dixon.
The Court has heard every word Of the testi-
mony and views it as an atrocious crime, with
out any justification whatever or excuse, and
the sentence Of the Court is that you be taken
back to the Jail Of st. Msry's county, Maryland,
where the indictment in the case was found.
and at such time as the Governor of the State
may appoint, from there to the place OF eIecu-
tion and be banged by the neck until you are
dead The Judge was visibly affected while
delivering the sentence and toward the end his
voice nearly lost its power. This is the FIRST
death sentence he has had to pronounce since
bis occupancy of the bench. The prisoner re-
ceived the verdict with slight nervous witch
ing Of the month but was otherwise apparently
una Gected by it, He was soon after taken back
to the Jail by the sheriff. 1t was not generally
known that the sentence was to have been pro-
nounced on that day and but few persons we're
III COuTt ~ tuc nut ohe VI TUG ps i~ouet
counsel being present. The correspondent OF
the Baltimore Sun states that be visited Biscoe
in his cell shortly after he was taken back TO
Jail and found him in snllen and obstinate
mood. He after yards talked quite freely, ard
stated he felt rather badly about ii. but sup
posed it had to come, and people would be
satisfied then. He complained that things had
been sworn to by witnesses that he did not state
10 his confession; said he had never yet told
the truth Of the killing, and that no one ", uld
ever know now, unless il would stop his being
hung. He said be was sure he would have been
out long sgo bad he been a white msn. but be-
ing poor and black be had no friends excep,
bis lawyers, who had done all they could for
him, and Sheriff Simpson who had acted fairly
md kindly to him.
The prisoner was carried to Leoaard:own
W dnesday By Sheriff Simpson accompanied by
Deputy C ERIK Davis, where he will be given in
barge of the authorities there, to be kept in
afe confinement until such time as the Cover
Tor nay appoint for bis execution.